Tigers' 4x800 relay wins state title

COLUMBUS — Some might say Seneca East's quest for a relay state title began last year at the Division III state meet.And why not? The Tigers returned three runners from last year's runner-up 4x800 squad, then saw sophomore Ayden Perkins fight his way through a pack to give senior anchor Owen Gahring a lead he never relinquished for a school record state title run of 7:57.32."They've been on a mission," coach Ed Phillips said."When the race finished last year and we were runner-up, we were happy with that, but they wanted more," he said. "They proved it at indoor this year, they won state indoor meet and really just stayed focused all year long. They knew what they wanted and they knew they were something special."But they've known what they've wanted for longer than a year."No joke, our freshman year," senior Bradley Smith said, "we went up to that wall (of fame at school), and there's a blank spot on it, and we were, like, 'This is going to be us.'"Senior Evan Schiefer led off Seneca East's first state relay crown since the 2001 4x100 championship, and he said his job was simple."I knew that everyone was going to go out hard," he said. "I knew they were all going to be out in front of me so my goal was once we get to that 300 break, I just want to move out (from Lane 1) to 2. I know everyone's cutting in on me, so I just tried to run smart."The Tigers found themselves in a pack sitting anywhere from fourth to sixth on legs run by Schiefer, Smith and Perkins until Perkins bolted to the lead before handing off to Gahring."Honestly I was so scared," Gahring said. "I've raced most of the anchors …, I know they're fast. I was scared, but honestly, it helped because knowing they were right behind me, I knew I had to give it my all."But Phillips said he knew the race was in good hands at that point."Those first three guys know that just keep it close usually and Owen will finish it off. Evan had a great leadoff and then we had a scary handoff to Brad," Phillips said. "Then Brad got it to Perk, and Perk just ran outstanding. He PR'd."His last 200, when he put us in the lead, nothing's guaranteed, but when Owen Gahring gets the baton with the lead, you feel pretty good about yourself," he said. "That was quite an exciting two laps to watch him race around and race to our first state championship in track since the 4x1 won it in, I think, 2001."